Important Computer Skills that You Should Learn in 2016

Are there specific computer skills that are in demand right now? According to Computerworld and Technojobs, some of the top 10 computer skills in demand since 2010 that need to be learned for top job hiring are very much still in demand this 2016. Programming, application development, business intelligence/analytics, database administration, cloud computing, front end development, and networking infrastructure have been pretty much in the in-demand skills radar up to now, while a new player, IT architecture, is making its debut as an in-demand computer skill for 2016.

However, for 2016 alone, based on present technology and trends, these are the computer skills that are highly in demand and have high probabilities of getting hired faster.

Mobile App Development

The biggest tech news in the handheld market is usually the announcement of the next smartphone or tablet. With these gadgets becoming more advanced and continually revolutionizing the way we communicate and work, there will always be a demand for mobile developers to create new and exciting mobile apps for iOS and Android. The present app market shows no sign of slowing down. Programming languages for mobile such as C++ and Java still continue to be used for mobile development, as well as Apple Swift, for Apple iOS and watchOS that prove to be valuable skills in developing new and ground-breaking apps. Another one to look out for is Hybrid App Development, which is the cross between web and native technology. 50% of mobile apps could be hybrid by 2016 making it the new standard.

Digital Marketing and Social Media

Not all skills need to be technical as many businesses have become dedicated to improving their digital marketing and social media presence online. The popularity of platforms like Facebook, Twitter or company blogs always require user engagement and unique content to keep users interested and up to date with company and PR related news. This means developing engaging content that informs existing customers and gains a new audience through shared content and search engine performance. Individuals skilled in SEO, PPC, and graphic arts are very high in demand due to the importance of search rankings, content marketing, and graphical adverts.

Cyber Security

With the recent rash of cyber-attacks and system databases becoming compromised from cyber criminals, it’s become apparent that the security and protection of sensitive data is an absolute priority for businesses. Because of this businesses have found it very urgent to hire individuals with cyber security skills to help protect their data, customers, and reputation. Businesses require analysts, consultants and engineers to ensure they have a well secure system that is difficult to breach or compromise. According to a study by Technojobs, there has been a shortage of individuals with computer security skills all over the world.

Smart Gadgets That Will Add Better Security to Your Home

Over the years, more and more people are now integrating smart gadgets into their homes, and everyone seems to be lured towards the convenience that they offer. Well, it's really hard to say no to something that has the capability to unlock your door with a tap on your smartphone or being able to remotely control your lights and appliances. If you're digging these smart gadgets, then you are probably interested in integrating them in securing your home. Below is a collection of four smart security gadgets that you can use to secure your home.

A little piece of advice though, the convenience offered by smart security gadgets may seem enticing, but they can also be used against you. For example, if a door can be remotely controlled or if a security system is based in the cloud, then this means it could get hacked if there are no security precautions were taken. Don't get lured by the security claims made by these gadgets and leave your home's entire security only to them. Make sure you do a research and make sure that your security system is secured against getting hacked.

1. Piper

Piper comes with sensors, a surveillance system and a home automation system to offer an all-in-one security solution. Its camera offers 1080p immersive video recording with 180 degrees view of the area -- enough to cover the entire room. In addition, you can also control the camera easily (pan, tilt, and zoom) and watch live recorded video remotely from anywhere on your smartphone with no monthly charges. Its sensors include Motion, Sound, Temperature, Humidity, and Light that are good enough to ensure that your house is safe from intruders and hazards.

If the device detects any unusual activity, it sounds a 105db siren (louder than a jet's sound 100 feet away) and notifies you via text, email, and phone call. Its home automation enables you to control the temperature, set up window, and door sensors for a security breach and control lights and appliances. Best of all, it comes with two-way audio communication so you can listen and talk to people/pets directly from Piper.

The Piper Classic costs $199.99. Some sensors and automation systems are sold separately or in bundles from Piper Store.

2. SkyBell HD

SkyBell HD is a video doorbell that is designed to make you answering the door easier from anywhere, at the same time offering some reliable security features. This device comes with an HD camera that lets you see the person whose at the door, and its two-way audio communication enables you to talk to them from anywhere with your smartphone and an Internet connection. SkyBell can start monitoring when the doorbell is pressed or there is motion detected, and you will receive a notification from your smartphone. This lets you have a view of what's happening at your front door and also prevents the risk of blindly answering the door. And with its Night Color Vision, you are safe and sound both during the night and day.

At the moment, SkyBell is only available in the USA with a price tag of $199.

3. Kevo Smart Lock

Kevo is considered as a convenient smart lock because it lets you open your house door with just a tap on your phone. You can use Kevo app on Android and iOS to unlock your door with a Bluetooth signal or use a FOB to open the door with a tap if your smartphone isn't supported. According to its manufacturer, the lock passes stringent key bumping, lock picking, and physical security tests and uses encryption for digital security.

You also have the option to upgrade to Kevo Plus to enable you to remotely open the door from anywhere using an Internet connection and also get the current status of the door, along with the notifications, as to when the door is locked or unlocked. You can also give eKeys to trusted family members and friends to let them lock and unlock the door.

The Kevo Smart Lock costs $199, while the Kevo Plus upgrade costs a one-time fee of $99.

4. iSmartAlarm

iSmartAlarm is a set of security devices (although sold separately) that is perfect to use to secure almost every aspect of your house according to your needs. You are not required to purchase a whole package -- just buy what you need and then leave the rest. Some of its well-known devices include an HD camera with night vision, 110db satellite siren, door and window sensors, lights ands appliances controller, and motion and temperature sensors. It also comes with a main control system to control all iSmartAlarm devices.

All iSmartAlarm devices are sold separately with various prices.

How “Turning it Off and On Again” Can Solve 90% of All Known Home User’s IT Problems

Yes, power cycling can solve most IT issues – and that is by simply turning your computer off and then turning it back on again.

It’s called power cycling, and it’s the act of turning a device or electronic equipment off, and turning it back on again. This is often done to computers and modems to correct a frozen, hung, or otherwise malfunctioning device. Normally, it is recommended to leave the device powered off for about 10 to 30 seconds before restarting. Sometimes in computer parlance, it’s called ‘restart.’

Of course, this is assuming that the problem is software in nature, and not hardware, and so, can be solved by power cycling. Here are a few ways to power cycle when using different gadgets and devices.

Remove the battery

If you have a gadget that suddenly freezes up and won’t work at all, pulling the battery is a good way to get it started. This applies to smartphones, laptops, digital cameras, and everything else with a removable battery. Before removing the battery, ensure the device is unplugged to ensure it isn’t receiving any power at all. Remove the battery, wait around 30 seconds, reinsert the battery, and turn it back on. The hardware will often come right back to life.

Long-Press the power button

Many new devices are coming without user-removable batteries, but users still need the ability to power cycle the gadget. If you have a device without a user-removable battery, there’s often a way to power cycle your device by long-pressing the power button. For computers, the power button is easy to locate. On Kindles, tablets, and most smartphones, long-pressing the power button for an entire 30 seconds will power cycle the device and force it to restart.

Unplug the power cable

If you have a device with neither a battery nor a power button, such as a router or modem, you can power-cycle the device by pulling its power cord and plugging it back in. However, you should wait at least 30 seconds to be safe, before plugging the device back in. If you plug it back in too soon, it may not lose power entirely.

If this didn’t solve your problem and your device still seems frozen (or dead), be sure that you’re following the correct procedure for your specific device. Check if your gadget has a reset pinhole instead of the power button, or may use a combination of buttons mentioned in the device’s manual. If following that process didn’t help, it’s possible that your hardware is dead and the device needs to be serviced or replaced. With computers, power cycling is synonymous with rebooting the whole system, this is why power cycling can also clean out whatever problem is inside the computer. If the problem persists, you may need to call a professional computer technical support company to see what the real problem is. Anything less than this, you might want to just turn off and turn on the computer or gadget to fix the problem.

Some Awesome Ways to Learn Basic Computer Troubleshooting

Whether it’s dealing with your dad’s decade-old computer or your own custom-built gaming rig, troubleshooting computer problems is a part of any computer’s lifespan, even if it’s not done daily. Of course, it’s good to be subscribed to a professional technical support company, but there are the simple problems that you may be able to handle if you only knew what to do. Ever heard of the common stories from tech support call centers about the caller who complained that his computer won’t turn on no matter how much he pressed the ‘on’ button? When the tech support agent asked the caller if he plugged the computer in the wall socket, the caller complied, and when he turned on the computer, the caller remarked, “My computer turned on; you’re a genius!”

However, let’s get something straight. Learning basic troubleshooting doesn’t take away anything from professional tech support personnel. It takes experience, training, and even a degree to learn how to fix and repair hardware problems. Professional tech support people had to go through school and on-the-job trainings, as well as taking a battery of exams just to earn a tech support license. So, let’s not forget them even as we seek ways to learn some basic troubleshooting.

Self-Learning or Do-It-Yourself

If you have the time to learn by yourself, or you’re the DIY type, the Internet has literally millions of sites and online resources dedicated to learning basic troubleshooting. If you’re subscribed to a tech support company, their official site usually has a page or pages dedicated to basic troubleshooting. As an example, take a look at this knowledgebase from Supportrix. If you’re using Microsoft OS and Windows, their official site has pages dedicated to basic troubleshooting. Other reliable sites that you can find troubleshooting tips and lessons are from reputable PC magazines and review sites. For video tutorials for basic troubleshooting, you can always turn to the ever reliable YouTube and type DIY basic troubleshooting in your search.

Short Seasonal Workshops

Occasionally and in many cities, colleges, universities, or major technology companies offer seasonal hands-on workshops that come with registration fees. They usually last from a couple of days to a week, depending on the type of training given. They are seasonal because they are usually given during spring breaks, summer vacations, or on long weekends, maximizing on the number of people who are free during these seasons. Search online for these or be observant of posters or ads announcing these workshops. They are worth your time.

Short Courses at Schools

Colleges, universities, and schools that specialize in computer science courses often offer short courses that range in 6 months to 1 year in duration. Some short courses are also really short are 2 to 3 months. If you have the money to spare, a course on basic troubleshooting will really go a long way for you or your small business. And the diploma on your wall can earn you bragging rights as well.

Using Advanced Search Operators to Narrow Down Search Results for Certain Computer Problems

What are Advanced Search Operators?

Advanced search operators are words that are added to online searches to help narrow down the results. There are also certain punctuation marks you can use with or without using the advanced search words. If however, the punctuation marks don’t give better results, better suggested results will be shown without the punctuation.

For example:

Operator Word	How to use it
site:	Get results from certain sites or domains. Examples: wifi problem:lifehacker.com
related:	Find sites that are similar to a web address you already know. Example: related: internet connection
OR	Find pages that might use one of several words. Example: router issues OR router problems
info:	Get information about a web address, including the cached version of the page, similar pages, and pages that link to the site. Example: info:google.com
cache:	See what a page looks like the last time Google visited the site. Example: cache:washington.edu

For punctuation examples:

Symbol	How to use it
+	Search for Google+ pages or blood types Examples: +Chrome or  AB+
@	Find social tags Example: @agoogler
$	Find prices Example: nikon $400
#	Find popular hashtags for trending topics Example: #TechTips
-	When you use a dash before a word or site, it excludes sites with that info from your results. This is useful for words with multiple meanings, like Jaguar the car brand and jaguar the animal. Examples: printer multi -function or printers -site:wikipedia.org

Advanced search operators or search words are the cornerstone of good, but old-school-type search engine optimization (SEO), that is, the art of SEO without the modern tools. What’s more these advanced search words can be used on all major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

In a world that is saturated with search software tools, advanced operators are the best solution for the common human being who has no access to any type of search tool. Whether with regular or complex use the user gains a better understanding of advanced search commands and will definitely become a lot more resourceful when doing even just basic site searching, link prospecting, and finding certain search results.

In terms of searching for specific computer problems, advanced search operators can be the bread and butter of even the most amateur user searching for any type of computer problem and its solutions. In reality, most tech support professionals who need to do extra research for extreme computer cases often use advanced search operators. For those simply searching to narrow down the search parameters for specific computer problems, using advanced search operators doesn’t mean you need to memorize all advanced words or punctuation since all search engines have some sort of “cheat sheet” page listing all their specific advanced search words.

On the bottom line, using these advanced search words, the computer user can more or less find what’s wrong with the computer, and probably find the solution to it. However, knowing the problem and knowing the solution doesn’t mean the user can fix the problem. Still, the best thing to do even after doing all this advanced searching would be to call a proven and professional tech support company for help.

Some of the Reasons Why a Lot of People Fear the Internet of Things

In simple terms, the Internet or Things or IoT is the basic concept of connecting any device with an on and off switch to the Internet or to each other. This includes everything from cellphones, coffee makers, washing machines, cars, lamps, house lights, gadgets, and almost anything else you can think of.  This also applies to components of machines, for example the drill of an oil rig or the trip switch of an electrical grid. In short, if it has an on and off switch, then chances are it can be a part of the IoT. Some IT analysts predict that by 2020 there will be over 26 to 100 billion connected devices.

How Does This Impact All Human Beings?

IT analysts today see the future as, “Anything that can be connected, will be connected.” Imagine that, for example, you are on your way to a meeting so your car can access your smartphone calendar and already know the best route to take. If the traffic is heavy, your car can send a text to your office notifying them that you will be late. Or perhaps your alarm clock wakes you at 6 in the morning and then notifies your coffee maker to start brewing coffee. Or your office equipment knows it is running low on supplies and automatically re-orders from the supplier. Or your gadget or smartphone tells you when and where you were most active and productive in the workplace and shares this information with other devices that you used while working.

Lack of Universal Value

Unfortunately, most of the human race still cannot fully embrace the concept. This comes down to the current lack of any universal value proposition, and is not the fault of the technology. Remember that consumer education is an important part of the mix. Rather than expecting people to understand the need for IoT devices, companies need to get easy-to-use IoT devices into the hands of people to demonstrate their potential. However, browse through the IoT section in any technology store and you will be presented with an overwhelming array of strange devices with even stranger instruction manuals.

No Centralized Platform

Developers have been the driving force behind the Internet and the mobile revolution. However, the current lack of a centralized platform for the IoT is the main reason for the slow growth and creativity for IoT, but is common on mobile devices. For example, in Android and Apple app stores, there is a constant hub for experimentation and development. Currently 93% of developers focus on producing apps for smartphones because they make more money while there is almost zero development into even a centralized platform for IoT because it has yet to prove being a moneymaker.

No Interconnectability and Universal IoT Protocol

Another major issue for IoT developers relates to inter-device compatibility. Until connectivity is standardized, consumers will continue to face technical difficulties when trying to get their devices to interact, especially in the home environment where smart objects are very likely to come from a range of different suppliers and have different communication protocols.

Security

Not only do people need to understand about IoT, but they also need to be sure that the devices they are using are secure. This has been probably the biggest concern over IoT for many, especially in the light of recent news on high-profile hacking on Internet-enabled cars. Thus, IoT developers must recognize that every device is a potential target, which is what makes IoT security such a critical issue, before it is publicly adopted.

These Business-Related Devices or Technologies Might Become Obsolete in the Next 5 Years

As technology evolves faster and faster through the years, certain things are overtaken, outgrown, and become obsolete. For instance, though vinyl records are making a comeback, no one hardly use cassette tapes and CDs anymore. Even DVDs, Blu-Ray, and video discs are making their way to digital space and are facing near obsolescence. The smartphone alone has suddenly rendered many technologies obsolete, starting with ordinary cell phones.

So, what devices, gadgets, gadgets, and technology are now facing extinction in the business world?

Traditional Landline Phones
Sure, you could say that hospitals, call centers, emergency and police services, and sales offices still needed landline phones, but as mobile devices and smartphones improve, these can take the place of the landline phone. And if there are laptops and PCs around, think VoIP services that are cheaper than landlines.

Standalone GPS Navigation System
Smartphones are rendering standalone GPS navigation system almost unnecessary, especially if GPS is widely used for business purposes such as in trucking and delivery services or for construction vehicles. Some vehicles today are sold factory fresh with their own GPS systems that can easily hook up with any smartphone. And of course, with the improvement of Google Maps and Apple Maps, you don't need to pay a monthly fee for GPS functionality.

Alarm Clocks
Some may argue how is this business related? Well, what have you been using to wake you up in the morning to get to work? However, chances are, in the last 5 years or so, you no longer use a standalone alarm clock, instead relying on your cell phone and then later on your smartphone. With a smartphone, you can even choose your favorite tune.

Dial-up Internet Access
With today's technology, it's hard to see why anyone would use a phone line to connect to the Internet when there are so many feasible alternatives. Dial-up may seem to belong with smoke signals and carrier pigeons on the communication scrap heap, but back in the late 90s and early 2000s remember that it was all the rage.

Wristwatches
Again you could argue that professionals still wear a wristwatch to work, but let's be honest since these people grew up with watches; now watch the younger generation. Honestly, the younger ones know that smartphone and iPads or tablets can tell the time when you're out and about, and virtually every appliance in your home - from your refrigerator to your coffeemaker to your television to your DVD player - has a clock.

Business-related gadgets and devices actually are the first to become obsolete, and all you need to do is remember, when was the last time you saw a manual or electric typewriter, a fax machine, or sales professional using a beeper? These are all gone by now. Recently, aside from those listed above, even the USB Flash Drive is going to be obsolete because of cloud storage services on the Internet. Also, let's not forget the short lifespan of the PDA or Personal Digital Assistant that incorporated note taking, voice memos, and calendars, and given the fact that they used a stylus, they just disappeared pronto from the business scene.